Paul Carey (March 15, 1928 – April 12, 2016) was an American broadcaster and sportscaster whose professional work spanned six different decades. He is best known for his longtime association with Detroit Tigers baseball and for producing the Detroit Tigers Radio Network from 1964 to 1971. Over the course of his career he earned recognition for both on-air presentation and behind-the-scenes production, and he is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. For a concise overview of his life and career see biographical summary.

Carey worked in multiple roles that are typical for a mid‑century radio professional: live play-by-play and game description, studio hosting and interviews, and radio production that organized affiliate broadcasts. Listeners and colleagues remembered him for a clear, listener-focused delivery and for adapting traditional radio techniques as broadcasts evolved. Contemporary profiles and retrospectives discuss his approach and place it in the broader history of sports broadcasting; a selection of career highlights is available at career highlights.

The period when he produced the Detroit Tigers Radio Network (1964–1971) was one of expansion for team radio, with greater coordination of affiliates and more elaborate pre- and post-game programming. As producer, Carey would have been responsible for arranging network feeds, coordinating talent and commercials, and shaping the on-air schedule—tasks that are central to any successful regional sports radio operation. His on-air and production work for the Tigers remains a defining element of his professional identity; for material related to those broadcasts see Detroit Tigers broadcasts.

Carey’s contributions had both local and professional importance. Locally, longtime Tigers fans recall broadcasters as companions to the season and key interpreters of games. Professionally, broadcasters who combine on-air skills with production experience often serve as mentors and technical leaders in their stations. Carey’s induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame recognizes both his public visibility and his behind-the-scenes impact; the Hall of Fame entry is cited at Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Paul Carey died on April 12, 2016 in Rochester, Michigan, from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was 88. Obituaries and remembrances published at the time emphasized the length of his career, his association with Detroit baseball, and the respect he earned from colleagues across radio and sports communities; a retrospective notice is accessible via remembrance and obituary.

Notable facts and legacy

  • Six-decade career: Carey broadcast professionally across six different decades, a mark of longevity in a changing media landscape.
  • Detroit Tigers association: Known for broadcasting Tigers games and for producing the team’s radio network in the 1960s.
  • Recognition: Inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame for contributions to sports media in the state.
  • Enduring presence: Remembered by fans and broadcasters for melding on-air skill with production leadership.